in his 22 years as leader of the nra, the former conservative activist and lobbyist is well known for what his opponents often call inflammatory statements. in a 1995 fund-raising letter, for example, he called federal agents enforcing gun laws quote, jack-booted thugs. in 2000, he implied president clinton was an accessory to murder, allowing gun deaths to mount up to build public support for gun control. after the columbine high school killings, he told congress the nra's members were being unfairly blamed. >> somehow our reckless societal pathogen, an empire opposed to safety, caution and reason. that's a cruel and dangerous lie. >> reporter: when arizona congresswoman gabby giffords was shot, lapierre said it happened not far from a school, a gun-free zone. once again, he lit into his foes. >> it didn't make any difference. their laws don't work. their lies don't ring true. and if tucson tells us anything at all, it tells us this. government failed. >> reporter: now even with newtown still close at hand, he says it is gun control advocates who are endangering america. >> we believ